Common

A

swimmer, having passed through the elementary work of developing his staying power, perfecting his style of swimming, as well as learning to turn and 'push off' well and neatly, so as not to encroach upon the water-space allotted to another competitor, then devote his attention to speed. Im provement in speed can only come by constant practice, and it is senseless to throw up training because within a certain period no marked decrease in the time taken to cover a particular distance is noticeable. In fact, the trials may occasionally be much slower than those previously made, but this should not in any way discourage the novice, as there are many causes, such as a man being slightly out of condition, making a bad start or a turn, which might contribute to this.

The training for speed by amateurs should not be overdone. If the swimmer does his work in the evening, he should take care not to tire himself during the day. Gentle walks after the tub, rub down, dumb-bells in the morning, with an occasional run of a hundred yards later in the day, will keep him fit. His first spins should be about thirty yards at top speed, a rub down, and then another sprint of fifty yards. This is quite sufficient water practice, and after a careful towelling a brisk walk should be taken. This training will perfectly suit a man entered for a hundred yards race. Occasionally the full distance should be swum against the watch, and now and then two hundred yards covered at an ordinary pace ; but the main work should be confined to distances somewhat shorter than that for which the swimmer is training. When entered for races at distances of above one hundred and under five hundred yards, the training has to be slightly altered. Longer

swims are necessary on account of the need for greater staying power. About three-quarters of the distance should be covered' at racing pace. For courses over five hundred yards the work is much more severe. The speed should not be too great at first, but it must be gradually increased until considerably more than half the distance can be covered rapidly. Once or twice a week a swim of double the journey entered for should be made at a uniform rate of movement, and once a week the full distance traversed at top speed against the watch. Even when training for the longer races the short fifty-yards swims should not be neglected, for the possession of a turn of speed at the finish of a close long-distance race is often very valuable.

For a championship race the swimmer should try and secure a special week of training. An early morning dip, breakfast, a walk, and then a swim, followed by dinner, a sleep, a special speed swim, tea, walk, and early bed should be the programme of each day's work just prior to the race. A short speed swim on the morning of the race will be of assist ance. If the venue is some distance away, the journey should be made overnight and not on the day of the race, as nothing upsets a man more than being hurried at the last moment.

In addition, it is advisable to view the course, get full information as to the starting-, turning-, and finishing-points, as well as obtain refreshment. This it is very often impossible to do when the journey is a considerable one or the trains late. All these little details have to be remembered, but a practised swimmer soon gains a knowledge of them by experience, and is never at a loss how to act.